The U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded $75 million in federal grant funding for the Perris Valley Line (PVL) extension of Metrolink. The $248 million project will extend rail service 24 miles and will include new stops in Perris, South Perris/Menifee, March Air Reserve Base, and the Hunter Business Park in Riverside. On Monday, December 9, 2013, the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) welcomed FTAs Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan to Perris during a formal ceremony held at the Perris Transit Center. Ms. McMillan was joined by local Congressman Mark Takano (D-Perris) and Ken Calvert (R-Corona), who both sought funding for the project. A number of local officials also participated in the formal grant signing ceremony.

The Federal Transit Administration is proud to invest in the Metrolink extension to Perris Valley, which is an important part of the regions commitment to expand and modernize public transportation for hard-working families, said Deputy Administrator McMillan.

Dignitaries at the FTA $75 Million Grant Award Ceremony

The PVL service is expected to open in mid-2015 and is projected to carry more than 4,000 passengers per day. Additional PVL project information is available at http://www.perrisvalleyline.info/.

91 PROJECT BREAKS GROUND

More than 250 people celebrated the beginning of construction for the widening of the 91 freeway through Corona. The $1.3 billion project adds general purpose lanes, tolled express lanes, provides a number of interchange improvements, and is expected to create 16,200 jobs over the next three and a half years during project construction. RCTC is the lead agency for construction on the project, which is being funded through a combination of sales tax bonds and the local Measure A Transportation Sales Tax program. The design-build project will be constructed by Atkinson-Walsh, a joint venture, which opened offices in Corona.

A number of federal, state, and local officials attended a formal groundbreaking ceremony at the North Main Corona Transit Station to mark the beginning of construction including
Brian Kelly, Secretary of the California Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

This projects innovative financing approach supports important improvements to a critical link between the Inland Empire and Orange County, said CalSTA Secretary Kelly. The express lanes will give drivers new transportation choices while helping public transit and carpools reach more destinations.

Dignitaries at the $1.3 Billion Groundbreaking Ceremony

Nearly 280,000 vehicles travel SR-91 daily, and this number is expected to grow by another 140,000 vehicles daily by 2035. Once completed in early 2017, the 91 Project will expand transportation choices, reduce delays, allow faster emergency response, relieve local street congestion, and offer better access to public transit and trails.

A concerted public outreach campaign will be conducted to alert commuters and residents of construction impacts of the project. Those seeking more information can access the project website at www.sr91project.info.

Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley was elected to serve as the Commissions Chair for 2014. Perris Daryl Busch will serve as Vice Chair and Desert Hot Springs Scott Matas will serve as Second Vice Chair.

Ashley took office as a Riverside County Supervisor in 2003 and became a member of RCTC at that time. He sits on a number of regional boards including the Salton Sea Authority and the March Joint Powers Commission (March JPC).

Busch will serve as RCTCs Vice Chair. He served as Mayor since 1999 in the city of Perris and serves on a number of regional boards including the March JPC and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority.

Matas will serve as RCTCs Second Vice Chair. He was appointed to the RCTC board in 2008 and actively serves the city of Desert Hot Springs. He is active in the community and volunteers for many local charities as well as coaching youth sports.

UpcomingCommission Meeting

The Commission will hold its next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. at the Riverside County Administrative Center, Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, California.

Speaker’s Bureau

The Commission also maintains a speaker’s bureau that actively makes presentations throughout the county on transportation issues. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation for your service club or community organization, please contact Eliza Echevarria at (951) 787‑7141 or eechevarria@rctc.org.

During the past month, Commissioners and/or staff participated at the following events:

November 14:
Woodcrest Town Hall Meeting

November 17  19:
Focus on the Future Conference

November 19:
Green River Home Owners Association  91 Project

November 20:
Norco Area Chamber of Commerce  RCTC Projects

November 22:
Lou Desmond Radio Show  91 Project

December 2:
Safe Routes to School Meeting  Active Transportation

December 5:
Optimist Moreno Valley  I‑215 and 91 Project

December 5:
Southern California Economic and Jobs Creation Summit

December 6:
Statewide RTPA Legislative Roundtable

December 9:
Federal Transit Administration  Perris Valley Line

December 10:
Federal Highways Administration  Goods Movement

December 11:
Groundbreaking  91 Project

December 11:
Groundbreaking  Avenue 52

December 11:
California Transportation Commission

Follow RCTC on Twitter

In an effort to enhance public outreach, the Commission created a twitter account — an internet messaging site that allows anyone to post information on a real time basis. If you use Twitter, you can follow the Commission at twitter.com/RCTC.

Interested in what’s happening with traffic in the Inland Empire? IE511 is your best source for getting around Southern California. Real‑time traffic for Southern California, including travel times, freeway cameras, and incident information. IE511 also offers bus and rail transit information as well as rideshare for those seeking an alternative to automobile travel. Connect on the go. Call 511 within the Inland Empire or rely on IE511 wherever you go by calling 1‑877‑MYIE511.